Bomb Blast Archives – Sky News Africa

Crime

At least 8 soldiers dead in blast outside Somali army base

Abdul Sadiq - August 8, 2020

SOMALI A car bomb exploded at the gates of a military base in Somalia’s capital Saturday, killing at least...

Crime

Blast near Afghan presidential rally kills at least 24

Kolariah Ksathra - September 17, 2019

AFGHANISTAN A Taliban suicide bomber killed at least 24 people near a campaign rally for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani...

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Millions of Hindu pilgrims took the plunge into sacred rivers at the world's largest religious gathering Monday, led by ash-smeared holy men and accompanied by religious chanting. On the most auspicious day of the months-long Kumbh Mela festival, devotees rose at dawn in the northern city of Allahabad to immerse themselves at the confluence of three rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, a devout, fierce and famously nude sect of followers of the Hindu god Shiv, and other holy men clad in saffron robes, led the mass bathing in the chilly waters, some brandishing swords and tridents. Hindus believe that bathing in the sacred rivers cleanses them of sin and Monday's Mauni Amavasya Snan -- the "no moon day" -- is considered the holiest of the gigantic 48-day festival that runs until March 4. More than 30,000 police were on duty to manage the huge crowds and prevent the deadly stampedes that have marred previous gatherings. Authorities have spent about $40 million on an operation to block drains and make sure others undergo special cleansing so that waste water pouring into the rivers does not threaten the pilgrims. AFP / SANJAY KANOJIA Pilgrims have been streaming into a temporary tent city three times the size of Manhattan island to participate in the festival's high point Special skimmer boats collected waste from the surface of the rivers and more than 40,000 temporary toilets have been installed. Pilgrims have been streaming into a temporary tent city -- three times the size of Manhattan island -- in buses, trains and cars to participate in the festival's high point. The confluence of the three rivers is considered especially holy and Hindus believe bathing there during the Kumbh helps cleanse sins and bring salvation. Nearly 12 million people attended the inaugural bathing ritual on January 15 and about 120 million are expected during the whole festival. Devotees meditate on the banks of the rivers after the dip and collect Ganges water in cans to take home. Many observe complete silence for the rest of the day after their ritual bath. According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a war over a sacred pitcher, or kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality. During the clashes, a few drops fell to earth at four different locations -- one being Allahabad. The historic city was recently renamed Prayagraj by the state's Hindu government but is still widely known as Allahabad, the name it was given by Muslim rulers hundreds of years ago.

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$sky news africa One-quarter of the $1 billion allocated by U.N. country-based funds went to local aid organizations last year, Carty said, “but I think we all agree that we want to do better.” And those funds manage just a small fraction of overall aid money. Most goes to U.N. agencies, while local aid groups are often seen as subcontractors of those agencies and international organizations. Tracking where the money goes remains a challenge. Now some pandemic-hit donor countries are reducing humanitarian aid — meaning even less money is trickling down to people on the front lines. In Somalia, where the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group remains a deadly threat, local aid groups “are able to reach and deliver aid in places where access is difficult. Unfortunately, very little COVID-19 funding has been directly allocated” to them,” said Amy Croome, Oxfam’s communications manager there. In South Sudan, a survey of 19 local organizations found 58% had lost at least half their funding because of the pandemic. Full Coverage: Virus Outbreak Many are ill-prepared for COVID-19. “People believe the disease is widespread across the country, but there’s very limited testing capacity,” said Jeff Okello, who leads The Health Support Organization in South Sudan. The group’s limited supply of personal protective equipment is left over from the recent Ebola outbreak in neighboring eastern Congo, he said. Most parts of South Sudan are reached only by local organizations, he said. Now the pandemic has worsened everything. “I think we have over 30 letters written by different communities across the country asking us to help them,” Okello said. His response: “If we get the resources, we will come.” He pointed out that international aid groups have the benefit of medical evacuation if workers get infected, while local aid groups must “survive on their own.” Several other South Sudanese local aid leaders said they’ve cut staff or restricted work in communities where they’re often the only source of help. “We always say ‘Thank God’ for the little we get, but it’s not what we used to get,” said James Keah, who leads UNIDO South Sudan. His group received $400,000 this year from the U.N.’s South Sudan Humanitarian Fund for health services. With few other means of substantial support, some 100 field staffers have left and services in several regions have stopped. Local communities are told, “You just have to cope with it,” Keah said. Moses Poloya with Health Link South Sudan said his group received about $400,000 less than last year. It now struggles to serve more than 1 million people at over 100 health centers, some lacking protective gear. He believes donors think local aid partners aren’t ready to handle larger amounts of money, a source of frustration. Groups like his are “resilient and always present,” he said. The U.N. humanitarian agency said nearly half, or 44%, of the $34 million in the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund has gone to local organizations this year. Forty-four such groups received money, down from 120 last year, reflecting changes meant to make projects more sustainable. But with the unprecedented global crisis, the U.N. said it and others “simply do not have enough to meet the growing humanitarian needs.” More than 300 local aid groups are registered in South Sudan, meaning nearly all must scramble for support, said Angelina Nyajima. Her Hope Restoration group has added the production of face masks and soap to its women-focused services to meet soaring demand. Groups like hers are at a disadvantage because international aid groups have the backing of richer home countries, she said. “For us, we have no mother country.” South Sudan’s government limps along two years after its civil war ended, with humanitarian groups providing most basic services. But Nyajima said COVID-19 is forcing donors to take notice as South Sudanese find ways to serve desperate communities on very little. “I think it’s high time, with the corona incident,” she said. “It has shown exactly what the locals can do.”$